Video Capture using Mitsubishi HS-HD2000U

[christopheramos]

Hello. I recently purchased a Mitsubishi HS-HD2000U digital VCR. Mainly, I want to transfer some old analog video tapes to my laptop, and I've read that the HS-HD2000U has a good TBC and internal tools for clearing up old videos.

What is the best way to capture to my laptop using the HS-HD2000U ?

Thanks!

[orsetto]

The Mitsubishi 2000 is an excellent tool for transferring VHS to DVD, I own a couple of these DVHS units myself. Unfortunately there is a very common misunderstanding about the fact DVHS vcrs all have firewire (DV) ports. These ports are exclusively for digital hi-def connection between the DVHS vcr, compatible television displays and/or tuners. The DVHS firewire port is otherwise completely useless: you cannot connect to a PC and you certainly cannot get analog VHS to play thru it. There is no particular technical advantage to using a DVHS over any other VCR to transfer analog VHS tapes to DVD, the advantage is more that the MGA or JVC DVHS machines available second-hand are much more likely to be in mint condition with better transport mechanics than an old SVHS JVC vcr. You connect a DVHS vcr to your capture card or standalone DVD recorder using analog L/R audio and S- or yellow-composite video cables. Conversion of the analog VHS signal to MPEG2 or AVI is done by your capturing device.

The Mitsu 2000 instruction manual is a confusing nightmare for someone who just wants to use the machine for "ordinary" VHS or SVHS playback. But you can safely ignore 85% of the manual, which mostly concerns the complexities of DVHS use. The DVHS circuitry is completely inactive unless you load a DVHS tape and connect the vcr to other hardware via firewire. Otherwise, the MGA 2000 defaults to ordinary VCR setup and operates much like any other vcr. The only feature that need concern you is the TBC/DNR, which is turned on or off via the big green button on the front panel (or thru the video menu). You can also adjust the machines picture output via the video menu "PerfecTape" settings of auto, soft, normal and sharp. Everything else is typical VCR stuff like figuring out how to set the clock and so on.